4-Day Datong and Pingyao Tour from Beijing

Meet your guide at the exit of Datong Nan train station. A comfortable private car (non-smoking) and experienced driver will be ready for your trip. Have a lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit one of the biggest Buddhist grottoes in China - the Yungang Grottoes. We will arrange a battery cart at the attraction, so you can avoid the long walk between the grottoes and have more time to see the statues.

Start today's tour with the Hanging Temple. True to its name, the Hanging Temple is hanging on a cliff. Ancient people built this temple to store food and water for people who passed by, and accepted three major Chinese religions so that travelers following those religions could stay there. Climb up to the temple with you and give the explanation including why people built this temple so high. Head to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda.after lunch. As a UNESCO site, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and tallest surviving wooden structure in China. After the tour, drive back to the Datong train station to catch the bullet train to Pingyao.

Wake up in your traditional Chinese-style room. It's better to start your day at Pingyao Ancient City Wall. If you are a photographer, capturing a sunrise at Pingyao Ancient City Wall is a great chance to grasp the charm of the ancient area. The core history of Pingyao Ancient City is the history of the Chinese banking system. The Rishengchang Former Bank was the first draft bank in China. There, you will learn how the banking system was created and how it developed until the first bank was defunct. Lunch will be arranged in a local restaurant where you will have a chance to learn making the traditional noodles. After lunch, you will visit the The Armed Escort Company Museum. It was built to protect the tangible currency. The Museum shows how this special business was formed and how it was run, and also introduces the top 10 escort companies and top 10 guards - they were all kung fu masters. Walk along Mingqing Street, which is the most prosperous area in the ancient city. The lanterns are all on at night and it is very lively there in the evening.

After breakfast in your hotel, your guide will be waiting for you in the lobby at the appointed time. You will explore the rich culture outside the ancient city wall. After driving for 10 minutes, you will visit the Shuanglin Temple. The Shuanglin Temple is considered to be the "unrestored glory" of Pingyao, and it has over 2,000 colored mud sculptures preserved under its humble-looking roofs. Every sculpture has its own face and expression, and each of them is a rare treasure. Next, we go to the much older historical Zhenguosi Temple.  It is quieter, apart from the outside sculptures, there are also murals. Its wooden architecture is the most famous. Drive to the Pingyao train station to catch a bullet train back to Beijing.